Detonating-fuse



D. F. ASBURY/ DETONATING FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24.1916.

1 31 0 046. Patented July 15, 1919.

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D. F. ASBURY. DETONA'I'ING FUSE.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 24. 1916.

1,3 1 0,046, Patented July 15, 1919.

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DORSEY F. ASBURY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF OOL'UMBIA, ASSIG-NOR T UNITED STATES ORDNANCE COMPANY, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, A CORPO- RATION OF VIRGINIA.

DETONATING-FUSE.

To all whom it may concern citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of WVashingto-n, in the District of Columbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Detonating-Fuses, ofwhich the following is a specification.

The objects of my invention are to provide a detonating fuse'wherein the fuse proper is 'mounted formovement in an axial direction relative to the projectile in which it may be mounted to relieve same of excessive stresses upon firing and impact; to so construct the fuse-that a relatively great Weight of metal 15 will be utilized to initiate the action thereof and thus insure the operation of the fuse 1 -upon a very. slight retardation resulting from impact against a very thin plate; to I provide a fuse wherein the action is auto,

matically controlled by the resistance offered by an object to a projectile with which the fuse is associated, that is to say, when the projectile strikes a thin plate the fuse w1ll be operated quickly but in case the projectile strikes a thick plate the action of the fuse willbe delayed; to provide a fuse wherein the danger due to a premature explosion is effectually guarded against; to provide a fuse wherein the detonator runway will not collapse and join the container or pelletin its forward movement; and to provide a detonating fuse which can be safely handled, easily assembled, and which embodies very few parts of exceeding simple construction.

, In. the drawings chosen to illustrate my invention, the scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,

- Figure 1' is'a longitudinal section of a fragment of a projectile with my improved fuse in place therein, the fuse being also.

shown inlongitudinal section and the parts in the .positionthey would occupy before i i .the projectile is fired;

V Fig. 2, a view similar to Fig. 1 with the 7 parts of the fuse in the position they would occupy after the stock has partaken of its 1 rearward set;

Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. 1 with the parts ofthe fuse in the position they would approximately occupy upon impact of the projectile against a target;

Fig. 4,a section on an enlarged scale on the line 4-4: of Fig. 1;

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 15, 1919.. Application filed June 24, 1916. Serial No. 105,564. v

' Fig. 5, a section on an enlarged, scale on theline 55 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 6, a forward end view on an enlarged scale of the fuse stock.-

Referring to the drawings A is a projectile provided with the usual cavity in which is stored the bursting charge 11. The rear end of the projectile is provided with a threaded fuse hole 12. In this instance I have shown the rear end of the projectile formed integral with the body but in large projectiles a portion of the rear end is formed by a base plug and in such instances the latter is provided with the necessary fuse hole. I j

My fuse proper comprises an adapter B having a cavity 13, said adapter being threaded in the hole 12 and carrying a fuse stock C slidably mounted in the cavity 13. The stock 0 is provided with an enlarged intermediate portion '14 forming forward and rear shoulders 15 and 16 respectively and the cylindrical face of this enlarged portion bears against the wall of the cavity 13. The rear end of the enlarged portion 14 is stepped to formanother shoulder 17 while the rear end of the cavity 13 is reduced to form a shoulder 18 against which the shoulder 17 is adapted to abut toglimit rearward set of the stock C. Surrounding the stock C is a corrugated cylindrical bu ffer 19 one end of which bears against the shoulder 16 while the other end bears against the shoulder 18. Another corrugated cylindrical buffer 20 surrounds the stock C and bears at one end against the shoulder 15.

and at its other end against a collar 21 threaded in the forward end of the adapter. As will be obvious, these buffers hold the stock G in its normal position, the buffer 19 yieldingly holding the stock against rear trifugal force, thus unlocking the barriersf and permitting them to also fly otlt under end of the stock but does notp-ierce its forward end. The rear end of the fuseway 22- is closed by a disk 23 having a central opening 2e therein. The stock is also provided with a transverse passage 25 which inter sects the fuseway 22 at right angles to the latter.

dowels 28 projecting from plungers 29 movable in a transverse passage 30 drilled through the stock C at right angles to the passage 25. These plungers 29rare backed up by coil springs 30 which'normally hold the plungers in lockingrposition jbilt' permit same to fly out under the'influence of centhe influence of centrifugal force to open communication between the forward'and rear portions of the'fusewayp Slidably mounted in the fuseway 22 and I normally held in the rear end of said fusewayby the barriers26 and 27 is a detonator container 01" pellet 31. pellet is of well known construction and'carries the detonator 32 in'its forward part and an 'impelling charge 33 in 'itsfafter end.

The detonator 3 2 is adaptedto be exploded by a primer .34 which is fired by impact against a firing point 35 formed on the'stock Qinthe forward end of the 'fuseway; while the imp'el-ling charge 33 is adapted to be xp ded by" firing a primer 36 carried by Z the container.

mounted in one of the slots 37 isa firi'ngjpin 38 which cooperates with theprim'er'336tov explode the latter, thecontainer'i3l being 7 YSlots' 37 are'cut' in the stock C to provide a release forf the gases in case of premature" explosion of the detonator, while the adapter 7 B is provided with an annular groove38 whichsurrounds the slots 37 when the parts of the fuse are either in normal position or in the position they would occupy when the stock has partakenof its full rearward set, said groove permitting' -further expansion of the gases incident to premature explosion of the detonator and also serving other purposes as will presently appear. Pivotally held. against axial rotation, when in "its normalposition; by a key or feather (notshown) to maintain the firing pin'38 in line, with the primer 36. zAispring 39 mounted: on the stock keeps'thefiring pin' in 'safe' position in .a fore and 'aftdirection in the event the stock should accidentally partake of its rearward set without the projectile being fired, while said pin is positively held' in safe position under'norm'al conditionsby engagementof one end thereof with, an abutment 4-0 on the adapter. A recess 41 is cut in the point of the firing pin 38 to permit Barriers 26' and 27 are fitted 'in'the passage 25 and are normally held in position to close communication between the fo-rward and rear ends of the fuse way 22 by This container or to shear 01f 'asithe" container drives forward upon explosion of the impelling charge 33. The firing pin 38 is mounted on pivot 42 which is" made relatively small so "that the forward set of the stock as the projectile isretarded in flight will shear same. Thus, 1n case theset of the container is not Slifilcientto explode the primer 36v the whole weight of the stock C'will be brought into 3 Y action toexplode it;

The stock Ciis provided with a plurality fofrecesses 42 surrounding the fuseway 22 V and stored in these .recesses is"a booster oharge43, it being noted that theforward;

ends of the recesses open through theforward end of the. stock and are closedspeotively by plugs 44. g

Danger due to premature explosion of the deton'ator is guarded against by. permitting the gases to expand themselves in driving the stock forward., The shoulder "15 'or .more' particularly the. enlarged portion .14 I V of the stock formsra piston head which, with the corrugated bufier 2Q pievents gas leakage between the stock and adapteixpFor- J Ward movement; of the stock:isgarrestedl when the shoulder {15 has collapsed the buffer 20 against the collar 2111 To prevent the escape of gas into the'fforwardiend of V the 'fuseway 22 the barriers 26 and 27 have" grooves turned in'them forming flanges which shear ,off and cause the barriers to wedge themselves n; the fuseway ln'case of premature explosionof either the impellingl O1 detonating charges,

: Assuming the parts to he in 'the position shown -in Fig." will be obvious that when the pro ect1le 1s discharged the stock C will 'set rearwardly and assume the positionshown in. Fig! 2 and during thismove- ,7

5 Duringflightof theprojectile the firing pin ment of the stock the bufieril) is 'icollapsed.

38 will move to the position shown in Fig.

2 under the iinfluence" of centrifugal force as will 'likewise the; barriers 26 and 27 Upon impact of the 'projectileboth the "stockand the'container 31 will 'set-forwardly and as. theforward set'of; the stock will "be? limited.

the booster charge 43 andv bursting charge 11 It will of course be understood thatLas the container 31 sets forward 'the i'mpelling charge 33 will be exploded by the primer;

charge 11 a" short distance through the action of inertia due tothe weight of .the stock, to a greater distance when a thick plate is hit. The container 31 thus hastotravel In. the event the projectilehitsla thin plate the" stock drivess forward jintothe V I of the groove 38 acts as a strut to prevent fartherinthe latter casethan inthe former au'd a greater delay in the action of the fuse I is". thus effected.

' A fuseconstructed in accordance with y W DUPI 1%? ma y advantageous characterlstlcs among whlch may be mentioned ;th a,t the booster charge isdriven into the Furbursting charge before detonation.

f ther, complete safety is. insured if the projectile should. be dropped as the primer 36 cannot be exploded except by causing the 1 stock to beset back, thefiring pinto fly out into its armed set forwardsu gosition and the stock then to I ciently to bring the primer against the point of the firingpm; Agam a differential pressure is exerted upon. the

container and stock by the impelling charge 'sothat the velocity of the container in its forward travel will .be relatively greater as the travelofthestock in its forward set be- CODIGS a IIIZLXIIIIIIIH.

.The stock being mounted for sliding 1 movement in an axial direction all working parts of the fuse are released from the enormous stresses resulting from impact with a thickplate and consequently less subject to deformation. Furthermore, the forward movement of the stock upon lmpact permits shortening of same and consequently considerable reduction in the length of the fuseway 22 without danger of withdrawing the booster charge too far from the I bursting charge of the projectile. During flight of the projectile it will be observed that the firing pin 36 by engaging the wall creeping of both the stock and the container.

I claim 1. In a fuse, an adapter, a fuse stock slidably supported by the adapter, a detonator slidable in the stock, and centrifugally released means carried by the stock and normally holding the detonator against movement.

2. In a projectile, a fuse stock slidably supported by the projectile, means yieldable supported by the projectile, a detonator slidunder a predetermined strain normally holding the stock against sliding movement in either direction, and a firing mechanism carried by the stock.

3. In a fuse, an adapter, a fuse stock slidably supported by the adapter, means yieldable under a predetermined strain normally holding the stock against sliding movement in either direction, and a firing mechanism carried by the stock.

4. In a projectile, a fuse stock slidably able in the stock, and an impelling charge adapted to be fired by impact of the prostock and detonator.

5. In a projectile, a fuse stock slidably supported by the projectile, a detonator slidable in the stock, and an impelling charge adapted to be fired by impact'of the projectile and exerting a different pressure on the stock and detonator respectively.

6. In a projectile, a fuse stock slidably supported by the projectile, a detonator carried by the stock, an impelling charge, and a firing-pin for the impelling charge adapted to hold the stock against sliding movement during flight of the projectile.

7. In a fuse, an adapter, a fuse stock slidably supported by the adapter, a detonator slidable in the stock, and an impelling charge adapted to be fired by impact and exerting a pressure on boththe'stock and detonator.

- respectively.

9. In a fuse, an adapter, a fuse stockslidably supported by the adapter, a detonator carried by the stock, an impelling charge, and a firing pin for the impelling charge adapted to hold the stock against sliding movement during flight of a projectile.

10. In a projectile, a fuse stock slidably supported by the projectile, a detonator carried by the stock, an impelling charge, a firing pin adapted to be moved to active position under the influence of centrifugal force, and means normally holding said firing pin in inactive position, said holding means being rendered inoperative by the sliding movement of the stock incident to the discharge of the projectile.

11. In a fuse, an adapter, a fuse stock slidably supported by the adapter, a detonator carried by the stock, an impelling charge, a firing pin for the impelling charge normally held in inactive position by engagement with the adapter and released for movement to active position by the sliding movement of the stock incident to the discharge of the fuse in a projectile.

12. In a fuse, a stock having a runway, a detonator mounted for movement in said runway, an automatically opened barrier normally closing the runway in advance of the detonator, and means on the barrier yieldable under the pressure incident to the premature explosion of the detonator to permit a portion of the barrier to be forced into the runway.

13. In a fuse, a stock having a runway, a detonator mounted for movement in said runway, and an automatically opened barrier normally closing the runway in adflight ofthe latter-whereby the forward setdrive the 20 i Vance of the detonator, saidba'rrier having a shearing flangeada-pted to be ruptured by pressure incident to the premature explosion of the detonator whereby the barrier will be forced into the runwayby'such pressure."

14;. In a fuse, an adapter, afifuse stock 7 having an enlarged portion slidably-engaged;

with the adapter, and collapsible members surrounding the stock'and engaging respectively at their ends the adapter and the en la-rged portion of the stock; c j 7 15. In a projectile, a'men'iber slidably supported by the projectile, a firing m'ember slidable in the first member, an 'iinpe'lling charge including a' primer, and a firing pin on the first member engageable with an abutment fixed relatively tothe projectile during of the member-upon impactwill prlmer agalnst the firing p1n.

1 6. In a'projectile; a member sli'dably supe p'orted'by the projectile, a detonatorslidable in the-member, an impelling'charge includ-fl Copies of this patent may be obtained for-five cents each, bya'ddi' e'ss'in'g Walhin'gton, I). 0.?

in a riin'er and afirin in n-themember engageable with a'n abutment fixed relatively to the projectile duringfiight of the latter whereby the forward set of the, member upon a impact'WiH drive the primer againstthe fi'r ingpin. V '7 V 7 17.*In a projectilma member slidably sup:

ported by the pro ectil e; a detonator' 'slid'able in themem'ber, an impelling charge includv V i a-pr'imer carried by the detonator; and a firing pin pivoted on the member engageable 7 j 4 35 1 With'en abutment fixed relatively to the firing pin. 7 V r In testimony whereof I hereunto 'afli'x my signature, inthe'p'lf'e'sence of two witnesses; V v r t RSEY RASBUR Y.

i Witnesses (1G. EVANS," V

E. SrdWELL.

the c'ommiiioner' bfrmn'ts, 

